A Marxist Analysis on the Film Titanic

Abstract

Film studies is a genre of academics that deals with historical and critical approaches of films. There are various critical approaches that can be used to analyze films. Marxism is one of the approaches which is an economic and social theory that views on the conflict between the capitalists and the working class where the working class or the third class overthrow the capitalists or the upper-class. The following paper aims to do a Marxist analysis of the film Titanic. Titanic is one such film where the class struggle and the domination of the upper-class over the lower-class is evident. The film techniques such as mise-en-scene and camera movements helps one to understand the conflict between the classes. Camera movements portrays the events and characters in the film. A detailed study of these techniques is done in the following paper.

Introduction

The text provides a Marxist analysis of the film Titanic (1997), directed by James Cameron, focusing on how the movie represents class struggle between the wealthy elite (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat).

It explains that Film Studies examines not just story but also cinematic techniques like mise-en-scène, lighting, camera angles, music, and sound, which in Titanic are used to highlight social inequality.

The analysis shows how class division is visually represented on the ship: first-class passengers enjoy luxury on the upper decks, while lower-class passengers are confined to darker, less privileged lower decks and even the boiler rooms. Costumes, lighting, and settings reinforce this divide, with wealthy characters shown in elegant clothing and bright lighting, while lower-class characters are portrayed in simpler attire and darker environments.

Camera techniques such as low-angle shots, close-ups, long shots, and panning further emphasize power differences, emotional moments, isolation, and disaster. Music and sound also reflect class contrast, with lively communal music in third class versus more restrained upper-class behavior.

References

[1] Babu, N.M, et al. Introducing Film Studies. Mainspring, 2015. [2] Dotson, Marshall. “Story Structure Analysis: Titanic (Movie).” Six Act Structure., 27 Aug. 2019, Sixstructure.com/story-structure-analysis-titanic/. [3] Jefferson, Ann, et al. Modern Literary Theory: a Comparative Introduction. Batsford,1997. [4] Nelmes, Jill. Introduction to Film Studies. Routledge,2012. [5] “Titanic Movie is a True Representation of Race and Class.” Google, Google, www.google.com/amp/s/bis235au2015.wordpress.com/2015/11/16/titanic-is-a-true-representation-of-race-gender-and-class/amp/

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Shaline S, Harish M , Gayathri B , Dr. Mary Tency E. L., Rithika S , Monicasri L. S.. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.